CFW 08

Chapter- 08

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“Oh wow, look at those eyes. You look like you’re about to kill someone. Hey, bro, think carefully about this, okay?”

Jeong-uk grinned playfully as he slowly circled around Tae-uk, brushing off his brother’s shoulders.

“Yesterday, I was on my way home when that woman suddenly ran up to me, threw herself into my arms, and fainted. So tell me—what was I supposed to do?”

Tae-uk said nothing. His eyes, sharp and cold as a blade, simply followed Jeong-uk’s every movement.

“Should I have taken her to a motel and slept with her? Or just left her there and gone home alone?”

Jeong-uk wagged his index finger, smiling slyly.

“She works at Dad’s company. She mistook me for you, tried to kiss me, and fainted in the process. What was I supposed to do—just leave her? I’m not that heartless.”

Then he added in a low, teasing voice:

“Besides, she’s such a beauty. Oh, and come to think of it—she smelled really nice when I carried her.”

At that provocative remark, one of Tae-uk’s eyebrows twitched.

“That’s why I brought her home. Now you get it, bro?”

Tae-uk stepped forward until he was right up in Jeong-uk’s face and said quietly,

“Don’t cross the line.”

Jeong-uk let out a breath, startled by how close they were—almost nose to nose.

“That’s a warning.”

“Oh, scary. Can’t you take it down a notch, bro? You’re going to give your poor, sensitive little brother a fright.”

Seeing that Jeong-uk wasn’t even remotely intimidated, Tae-uk, disgusted, turned and started down the stairs.

Talking to him never led to a proper conversation anyway—and always just made his blood boil.

Best not to deal with him at all.

He started down slowly, thinking maybe a glass of cold water would help cool his irritation. But, of course, Jeong-uk trotted down after him, picking a fight again.

“You’re pretty sensitive about that woman, huh? You’re not the Choi Tae-uk I remember. Sure, you’re her superior at work, but… is there something between you two?”

“Mind your own business.”

Tae-uk didn’t even look at him and kept descending the stairs.

“What, can’t I even ask?”

At that, Tae-uk paused.

Jeong-uk stopped too, staring straight at him.

That icy gaze turned toward him.

“And if there is something, what are you going to do about it? And if there isn’t? If you pull any of your old crap again, I won’t just let it slide.”

“I didn’t let it slide last time either. You talk like you were some saint back then. And for the record, Mi-jin came to me on her own. I didn’t chase her or seduce her. I was the one who got wronged, bro.”

“I don’t even remember the past. Just focus on your own damn life instead of doing stupid things.”

“But I don’t have a job. Unlike you, I don’t go to work every day. You didn’t know?”

“You bragging about that?”

The contempt in Tae-uk’s voice made Jeong-uk’s smile turn crooked.

“Try living properly, little brother. Stop lazing around and embarrassing the family.”

With that, Tae-uk’s long legs carried him swiftly down the grand spiral staircase.

Jeong-uk let out a soft, bitter laugh as he watched him go. Then his lips closed into a straight line, and his expression hardened.

‘He’s always been like that. Always saw me that way.’

Running his long fingers through his hair, the soft strands slipped between them.

He could tolerate many things—but being treated like he was useless and incompetent wasn’t one of them.

It had been that way since childhood. Father thought the same; both he and his brother looked down on him with pity and disdain.

‘Am I the only outcast in this family? The only misfit?’

In this prestigious JK family, he was the only drifter, the only so-called “free spirit.”

Since they were young, his brother had avoided even talking to him—acting as if being near him was unbearable.

Those looks of pity and superiority from Father and Tae-uk… he’d lived under their shadow for thirty years.

Jeong-uk finally reached the first floor.

By the marble column near the stairs, he spotted Bu-hyeon talking with Tae-uk.

Hiding behind the staircase, Jeong-uk watched them silently.

‘My brother’s against marriage… Does that woman know?’

Would the woman upstairs—who’d soon come down after washing and changing—know about his brother’s views on marriage?

Kim Seol-ah. The woman who’d mistaken him for Tae-uk at the blind date with Hye-gyeong Foods’ heiress.

The same woman who, drunk last night, had once again mistaken him for his brother and tried to kiss him.

“Unbelievable… Why are you pretending not to know me outside? This isn’t the office—no one from the team is here. You went on that blind date behind my back, didn’t you? We need to talk about that.”

Those were her last words before fainting.

Clearly, Kim Seol-ah had feelings for his brother.

‘How did she end up falling for a cold, marriage-hating man like him?’

She’d gotten drunk, confused the two of them, and tried to kiss him—all because she couldn’t forget the man she’d gone on a blind date with. Her feelings seemed far deeper than Tae-uk’s ever would be.

‘Poor thing.’

Even though they were identical twins, his brother was ice-cold and ruthlessly decisive. You could stab him with a needle and not draw a single drop of blood.

Despite their identical faces, their personalities were worlds apart. They never got along—and Jeong-uk hated a lifetime of being compared to him.

‘We’ll never get along, not now, not ever.’

Maybe that naïve, puppy-like woman would only make the rift between them worse… Jeong-uk thought grimly.

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* * *

Tae-uk was in a difficult position.

Bu-hyeon was clearly curious and kept pressing for answers, but there wasn’t much he could say.

He was still trying to observe Seol-ah—so it was too soon to define their relationship.

“She’s just a member of my team, that’s all. Nothing serious. Please don’t worry.”

“Why do you and Jeong-uk both say it’s nothing? If it’s really nothing, why do both of you seem to know that young lady so well?”

“Jeong-uk doesn’t know her. Only I do.”

“Then why was it Jeong-uk who carried her home last night?”

“I’ll explain later.”

“Oh, you’re impossible.”

Just then—

Tap, tap—

Light, cautious footsteps came spiraling down the stairs.

Seol-ah appeared on the first floor.

She was still wearing the same light-blue blouse and black skirt from yesterday.

Holding her handbag neatly in both hands, she stood poised before them. Both Bu-hyeon and Tae-uk turned their eyes toward her.

Behind the staircase, Jeong-uk quickly stepped back, hiding deeper in the shadows.

Seol-ah looked around nervously before walking toward Tae-uk and Bu-hyeon.

The entire mansion gleamed with marble; the vast living room was big enough to run in, and the soaring ceiling gave the place a majestic air.

With several live-in housekeepers visible, Tae-uk’s statement that this was his parents’ home made Seol-ah realize—he really was from a rich family.

Bowing deeply to Bu-hyeon, who seemed to be the lady of the house, Seol-ah apologized.

“I behaved very rudely yesterday. I’m so sorry.”

When she straightened, Bu-hyeon, who exuded grace and elegance, replied kindly:

“It’s all right. Young people make mistakes sometimes. I’m just glad nothing worse happened. By the way, I hear you’re on Tae-uk’s team?”

“Yes, that’s right. He’s my team leader. Thank you for understanding.”

“Then how did you end up being carried home by Jeong-uk last night? Were you two out for dinner or something?”

“Sorry? Jeong-uk…? Both you and my team leader keep mentioning that name—who exactly is Jeong-uk?”

“……?”

“……?”

Bu-hyeon blinked in confusion.

Seol-ah too stared blankly, looking back and forth between the two.

Tae-uk ran a hand down his face and quickly cut in.

“Mother, we need to get to work. I’ll explain everything later. Let’s go, Ms. Kim.”

“Well, there are plenty of rooms here anyway… And since your father’s already gone to work, it all worked out fine.”

Then Bu-hyeon turned to Seol-ah again and added kindly,

“I don’t know what your relationship with my sons is, but let’s meet again sometime.”

“Sons…? Oh—yes, thank you.”

Sons…?